Hi from Auckland NZ, locked down and only coming to the end of the 2nd week!! Have NO IDEA how we ever survived 65 days locked down in Sicily!!!
However, we are doing well, Deane can't work, Sherilyn can work a few hours remotely but we are enjoying exercising this time and the only other outing is a trip to the supermarket (we can't order online or Click & Collect - these options are overloaded indefinitely!!)
We are moving house at the start of October, the week before lockdown we secured a Air BNB up in Stanmore Bay by the beach so even in lockdown, because we travel SO lightly with only 2 suitcases we can still shift without the need for any assistance from others! A great option by the beach for summer, cuts Deanes travel time from 1.5 hours a day to 20 mins and reduce some costs.
Deane stopped to talk with Brian, a young guy sitting out side the supermarket reading his Bible & looking for coin donations. Jack (in this photo) came along and started talking with Deane too. Jack, a man saved through connections of a Prison Ministry. Deane talked to him and was able to encourage him as he was suffering having just heard that his niece & other family members are been killed in a car accident up North!
Palermo 2022
We are still planning a March departure from Auckland to Palermo, Sicily - with everything that is happening around the world today, we feel very convicted that going back to continue sharing the Gospel of Jesus with the refugees, migrants & Italians is definitely what we are called to do.
We will book flights as soon as we have raised 80% of our finances. We can also then organise Insurance, Visa's, language and accomodation.
REFUGEES still arriving in large numbers
The number of people arriving in Italy by boat has passed 35,000 people this year, double the number of those who arrived in 2020.
Every year, the Mediterranean Sea claims thousands lives. According to the UN migration agency's Missing Migrants Project, 1,214 people have died trying to cross the Mediterranean between January 1 and August 23, 2021
The Italian interior ministry said a total of 49,280 migrants arrived in Italy from August 2020 to July 2021, 128% more than the previous year.
The number of unaccompanied minors was up 155.26% with 7,843 in total and a total of 147 human smugglers were arrested during the year, an increase of 25%.
SICILY IS HEATING UP
MT ETNA, Sicily is Europe’s tallest active volcano which has errupted more than 50 times since February 2021.
SIRACUSA, Sicily recently recorded the hottest temperature in Europe since July 1977.
Fundraising A BIG THANK YOU to everyone who has supported us in the past, to those of you who continue to support us and to those who have just joined us as financial supporters!
Remember 100% of your donation goes to Missions - no admin fees! email us: graingers5@gmail.com
Missions Day
We had the opportunity to speak at the NPCC Missions day at the end of July, it was great to see Bob & Dawn, friends from Upper Hutt days, meet new people and hear about what other Missionaries are doing locally and around the world.
Extremely unlikely we will get to travel to these places with Auckland lockdown:-
19 September - Heretaunga Christian Centre 24 - 27 September - Wairoa & Gisborne
Hopefully Sherilyn can travel to Women In Mission Hastings 6th November 2021.
Contact David for any Domestic or International travel assistance.
David can also help with MIQ allocations.
Please Pray
for the people in Afghanistan - especially Christians who have been threatened with death if a bible is found in their house or bible app found on their phones
